Bill Summary
This legislation proposes a per diem allowance for Members of Congress to cover costs related to lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred while traveling to and from the Washington Metropolitan Area to cast votes. Key points include:
1. **Eligibility**: Members traveling from their designated residences to Washington for official business can receive allowances for lodging and meals, but those residing within the Metropolitan Area are not eligible.
2. **Conditions for Allowances**: Members can claim lodging allowances if they vote in person on the day of travel. Meal allowances can be claimed for the day of lodging, as well as the day before and after, provided travel occurs on those days.
3. **Reference Rates**: The per diem amounts will align with General Services Administration (GSA) rates applicable to federal employees.
4. **Regulations**: The implementation of these allowances will follow regulations set by the House and Senate Committees on Administration and Rules, ensuring they are not classified as taxable income.
5. **Definitions and Scope**: The bill defines "designated residence" and specifies the Washington Metropolitan Area, which includes parts of Virginia and Maryland.
6. **Effective Date**: The allowances will be applicable starting from the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress and will continue for each subsequent Congress thereafter.
This legislation aims to facilitate and support the travel needs of Congress members for their legislative duties.
Possible Impacts
The legislation regarding per diem allowances for Members of Congress can affect people in several ways:
1. **Financial Impact on Taxpayers**: This bill allocates public funds for per diem allowances to Members of Congress traveling to the Washington Metropolitan Area. Taxpayers may be concerned about how these allowances are funded and whether they represent a prudent use of taxpayer dollars. Increased allowances could lead to higher government spending, which may influence public opinions on government efficiency and fiscal responsibility.
2. **Travel and Representation**: The bill may encourage Members of Congress who do not reside in the Washington Metropolitan Area to travel more frequently to participate in votes and discussions. This could lead to more active representation for their constituents, potentially resulting in increased engagement with their districts. However, it may also raise questions about the effectiveness and necessity of travel if virtual attendance or remote voting options could suffice.
3. **Tax Implications for Members of Congress**: The legislation specifies that the per diem allowances will not be treated as earned income for tax purposes, which may influence the financial situation of Members of Congress. This treatment could make public service more financially attractive for individuals considering a career in politics, potentially impacting who runs for office and the diversity of representation in Congress.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 2519 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2519
To provide a per diem allowance for Members of Congress for the costs
of lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred because of travel
to and from the Washington Metropolitan Area in order to cast votes in
Congress, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 31, 2025
Mr. Rogers of Alabama introduced the following bill; which was referred
to the Committee on House Administration
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To provide a per diem allowance for Members of Congress for the costs
of lodging, meals, and incidental expenses incurred because of travel
to and from the Washington Metropolitan Area in order to cast votes in
Congress, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. PER DIEM ALLOWANCES FOR MEMBERS INCURRING COSTS IN TRAVEL TO
AND FROM WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA IN ORDER TO CAST
VOTES IN CONGRESS.
(a) Entitlement to Per Diem Allowances.--A Member of Congress who
travels on official and representational business to and from the
Member's designated residence to the Washington Metropolitan Area in
order to cast votes in Congress is entitled to--
(1) a per diem allowance for lodging in the Washington
Metropolitan Area in accordance with subsection (b)(1); and
(2) a per diem allowance for meals and incidental expenses
in the Washington Metropolitan Area in accordance with
subsection (b)(2).
(b) Exceptions.--
(1) Members residing in washington metropolitan area.--A
Member of Congress is not entitled to a per diem allowance
under this section if the Member's designated residence is
within the Washington Metropolitan Area.
(2) Expenses paid under other allowances.--A Member of
Congress is not entitled to a per diem allowance under this
section with respect to lodging, meals, and incidental expenses
for which payment is made--
(A) in the case of a Member of the House of
Representatives, under the Members' Representational
Allowance; and
(B) in the case of a Senator, under the Senators'
Official Personnel and Office Expense Account.
(c) Per Diem Allowances Described.--
(1) Lodging.--A Member of Congress may receive a per diem
allowance for lodging with respect to a day if--
(A) the House of Congress in which the Member
serves holds votes on that day; and
(B) the Member records a vote in person in the
chamber of that House of Congress on each vote held on
that day.
(2) Meals and incidental expenses.--A Member of Congress
may receive a per diem allowance for meals and incidental
expenses with respect to the following days:
(A) A day for which the Member receives a per diem
allowance for lodging under paragraph (1).
(B) The day before a day described in subparagraph
(A), but only if the Member travels to the Washington
Metropolitan Area on the day described in subparagraph
(A).
(C) The day after a day described in subparagraph
(A), but only if the Member travels from the Washington
Metropolitan Area on the day described in subparagraph
(A).
(3) Use of gsa rates.--The amount of the per diem allowance
to which a Member of Congress is entitled under this section
shall be the amount to which the Member would be entitled under
regulations prescribed by the Administrator of General Services
if the Member were an employee entitled to a per diem allowance
under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States
Code.
(d) Regulations.--
(1) In general.--This section shall be carried out in
accordance with regulations promulgated by--
(A) the Committee on House Administration of the
House of Representatives, with respect to the per diem
allowances for Members of the House of Representatives
and the Delegates and Resident Commissioner to the
Congress; and
(B) the Committee on Rules and Administration of
the Senate, with respect to the per diem allowances for
Senators.
(2) Ensuring allowances are not treated as earned income
for tax purposes.--In promulgating regulations to carry out
this section, the Committee on House Administration and the
Committee on Rules and Administration shall follow to the
greatest extent practicable the regulations each such Committee
promulgates with respect to payments for lodging, meals, and
incidental expenses incurred by Members of Congress under the
Members' Representational Allowance or the Senators' Official
Personnel and Office Expense Account, respectively, including
the provisions of such regulations which ensure that the
payment of such an allowance is not treated as income earned by
the Member for purposes of paying Federal, State, or local
taxes.
(3) Effect on existing regulations.--The regulations
promulgated under paragraph (1) shall supersede any regulations
of the Committee on House Administration or the Committee on
Rules and Administration governing the reimbursement of travel
expenses incurred by a Member of Congress which are in effect
at the time the regulations are promulgated.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) The ``designated residence'' of a Member of Congress
is--
(A) in the case of a Member of the House of
Representatives, a residence in the congressional
district the Member represents (or, in the case of a
Member who does not reside in the congressional
district the Member represents, a residence in the
State in which the congressional district is located),
as designated by the Member in a statement the Member
provides to the Committee on House Administration; and
(B) in the case of a Senator, a residence in the
State the Senator represents, as designated by the
Senator in a statement the Senate provides to the
Committee on Rules and Administration.
(2) The term ``Member of the House of Representatives''
includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress.
(2) The term ``Washington Metropolitan Area'' means the
District of Columbia; the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church
and Fairfax, and the counties of Arlington and Fairfax, in
Virginia; and the counties of Montgomery and Prince George's in
Maryland.
(f) Treatment of Delegates.--In this section, the term ``Member of
the House of Representatives'' includes a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress.
(g) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect to the
One Hundred Nineteenth Congress and each succeeding Congress.
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